Replace Door Locks on Your Car

Replace a worn out lock actuator quickly and easily

Repair broken power locks by replacing the actuator, which is a common problem on late-model Fords. You'll save on the shop fee plus some of the new part cost.

By the DIY experts of The Family Handyman Magazine:December/January 2012

Fix a power door lock

1 of 2

Remove the actuator

Force the flat blade of the offset screwdriver into
the plastic locking tab to depress it. Then jam
another flat-blade screwdriver between the latch and
the actuator and pry. The actuator will slide off two “rails.”

2 of 2

Close-up: Depressing the locking tab

Depress the locking tab with an off-set screwdriver.

Power door locks fail quite often on late-model Ford vehicles. They’re controlled by
a computer, but most often it’s the actuator itself that’s failed—not the computer.
So if you press the lock/unlock button and hear clicking or see that the lock is
moving, but not enough to open the door, the actuator is fried. A new actuator
costs about $50, and you can save about $75 in shop labor if you do the job yourself.
Along with ordinary screwdrivers and sockets, you’ll need a few inexpensive
special tools: a door handle remover for crank windows (about $7 from any auto
parts store) and a flat-blade offset screwdriver.

Buy a new actuator online (silverstatefordparts.com) or from your local Ford
dealer. Then remove the interior door trim panel (consult a shop manual for screw
and snap locations).
It’s hard to see in
these photos, but the
trick involves using a
flat-blade screwdriver
to pry the old actuator
off the latch while you
depress the actuator
locking tab with the
flat blade of the offset
screwdriver. You’ll be
working blind behind
the door structure, so
examine the new part
to get a feel for how
the locking tab works.

Tools & Materials List

Required Tools for this Project

Have the necessary tools for this DIY project lined up before you start—you’ll save time and frustration.

Flat blade screwdriver

Flat blade off-set screwdriver

You'll also need a door handle remover for crank windows and plastic gloves.

Required Materials for this Project

Avoid last-minute shopping trips by having all your materials ready ahead of time. Here's a list.